Photo: Liveon001 at English Wikipedia · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Henrietta than in 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Henrietta gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #172 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%), then tornadoes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 25 claims here since 1981.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Henrietta’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Henrietta faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Wildfire
Hail
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Henrietta’s grade
River and rain flooding is 55% of the building damage FEMA expects in Henrietta, and Henrietta’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 11%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #172 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Henrietta’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Henrietta has less expected damage per building than 73% of Texas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Henrietta: $666K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Henrietta flood? Sometimes: 25 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Henrietta, from FEMA’s records: 17.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Early summer severe storms3 claims · $213K
- The Fall severe storms1 claim · $52K
- Tropical Storm Imelda1 claim · $63K
Henrietta isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Clay County.The storms Henrietta remembers
None of the 14 disasters declared for Clay County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Henrietta itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 199010 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding, declared for Clay County
- 19813 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20163 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Clay County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Clay County, 2011–2011.
Old photos of Henrietta after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Henrietta archive →Get ready for what Henrietta faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Henrietta
Is Henrietta at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Henrietta has lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #172 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%) and tornadoes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Henrietta flood?
Flood insurance has paid 25 claims in Henrietta since 1981, $897K in all, or 17.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Early summer severe storms (3).
Is Henrietta in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Clay County, 0.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Henrietta?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Henrietta’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Henrietta?
By flood claims, Early summer severe storms: 3 paid, $213K.
Is Henrietta at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (55%), and Henrietta’s rate for it is lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Henrietta.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Henrietta’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.